News Archive for 06/12/18

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United seats w/iPod plugs

12/18, 6:35pm

United offers seat with iPod plug, XM radio

United Airlines is pampering its wealthy clients with an updated First Suite designed to provide maximum digital entertainment. Electronista writes that the enclosure will feature a 15.4-inch LCD, on-demand music, games as well as video, and 50 channels of XM Radio content in the form of 3,000+ pre-supplied tracks. Users can plug laptops into a 110-volt universal power port, and iPods are chargeable using a built-in iPod connector that allows passengers to keep listening with a pair of noise-canceling headphones. The airline will install the new First Suite only on wide-bodied planes making international flights, such as the Boeing 747 and 777.

QM debuts 2G Nano speakers

12/18, 5:35pm

QM debuts thin 2G iPod nano speakers

QM-Entertainment is developing a set of speakers exclusively for Apple's second-generation iPod nano that resemble the company's existing speakers for the first-generation model. The new speakers are no thicker than two CD jewel cases, according to Electronista, but now offer colors matching all of Apple's newest music players. The as yet unnamed stereo is powered either by a USB cable, which also synchronizes the iPod, or four AAA batteries. A line-in jack is provided for third-party players. QM-Entertainment has yet to reveal battery life and other details for its latest audio hardware, which is expected to launch in January for 30 Euros ($40).

SageTV takes on EyeTV2

12/18, 5:15pm

SageTV takes on EyeTV2, Slingbox

SageTV today released the Mac version of SageTV Placeshifter, a portable media extender that allows Mac users to access live or recorded TV, music, and photos from SageTV Media Center software installed on a Windows or Linux system. The updated version of the software is designed to eliminate the need for subscriptions to monthly PVR services as well as purchases of new Windows XP MCE PCs or a Windows XP MCE operating system to obtain PVR/media center capabilities. "Now family members can access their home TV and personal digital media library on any Mac or Windows machine in the home or even away, whether at the office, a hotel, the airport or a Wi-Fi cafe, with the same SageTV Media Center interface," said SageTV. The media extender is already shipping for $110, and includes a wireless remote control as well as an Ethernet cable.

Zune back at nine percent

12/18, 5:00pm

Zune at 9% of hard drive player market

Microsoft's Zune player is holding at second place in the hard drive-based player market, according to one report. The change equates to a share of nine percent, calculated by NPD using the first month of sales since the Zune's debut, while Apple's iPod's share tallies roughly 82.7 percent. The situation is less pleasant for Microsoft in the overall market, where the Zune ranks at fourth place with 1.9 percent share, according to Electronista. Despite products from Apple, Creative and SanDisk ranking ahead of the Zune, Microsoft's increase in market share represents progress from the Zune's once fifth place title. Apple's overall dominance has dropped from 63 percent in 2005 to 62.2 percent this month, according to the report, and command of the hard drive-based player market fell from 86.8 percent in the same time period.

Sony movie downloads

12/18, 8:50am

Sony preps online movie download service

Sony is readying its online video challenge to the industry-leading Apple iTunes store, according to a new report. Looking to enhance its own Sony Connect music store offerings, The Wall Street Journal reports that Sony is prepping an upgrade to its online media service that will include the ability to purchase movies online and watch them on Sony's PlayStation Portable. Expected in early 2007, it will include movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment at inception, but is expected to include movies from other studios as well. Sony is also readying a video-downloading service that will allow consumers to bypass their personal computers and send new video content directly to their hand-held devices, the report said; however, the final release plans for the direct-to-handheld service is still unknown.